Dean felt the presence behind him before his brother could even think about pulling a fast one, "I know you're there Sammy," Dean chuckled as the man behind him huffed.

"What gave me away?" Sam asked as he plopped down on the couch beside him.

"I'm blind Sammy, not deaf. You couldn't breathe quietly if your life depended on it," Dean smiled in the direction of Sam and closed the heavy book he had been reading on the coffee table near his feet. It was difficult to read braille when his attention was directed in two different places.

"So what's up?" Dean stretched out on the couch and placed his feet on his brother's lap (which Sam instantly pushed off.)

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out to a club with me, Gabe, and Jess tonight," Sam's voice sounded hopefully and Dean grimaced. The last thing dean wanted to do was go to a club. It's not that he hated them, but yeah, he did hate them.

Before the car crash that cost him his sight and his father's life, Dean had loved clubs. He had loved the adventure of flirting with beautiful women and dancing to the music and just having a genuinely fun time; plus the copious amounts of alcohol that used to blur his vision had made him feel pleasantly free.

But now, now Dean never drank unless he was at home. He was already blind now and he didn't really want to further hinder his senses any more than he had to. Dancing was no fun either, he could never quite tell who was who on the floor, and if he got felt up he couldn't punch the person without knowing who it was. No, clubs and bars weren't something Dean enjoyed anymore.

"I think I'll pass," Dean moved his face so that his unseeing eyes wouldn't be looking at his brother (a clear signal that the discussion was over). But since when had that ever worked?

"Dean, you can't stay cooped up in here forever you know. You have to get back into the world someday you know. It's been three years and you still haven't moved out of Bobby's place. Don't you think it's time you got your own place? Bobby can't support you forever. You're going to have to start working again," Sam lectured his brother again.

"It's not like I can just go back to being a mechanic Sam, what am I supposed to do? I'm BLIND remember?" Dean's voice rose and octave as he stood up and walked the ten steps it took to get to the door and turned around. Dean heard Sam shuffle and he assumed he stood up as well.

"I thought you were done with this self-pitying, self-deprecating bullshit. Yes you're blind! But you're not incapable of working! So what if you can't be a mechanic? Try something new! Life changes all the time Dean, and moping around on your ass reading books all day isn't going to make you happy! I just want you to be happy Dean…" Sam's voice got quiet at the end and Dean felt a little guilty.

Dean snaked his arms around his little brother and nodded against his shoulder, "I know. I'm sorry man. But don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Sam sighed and pulled away, "Alright, but just promise me you'll try okay? You don't have to come to the club but Jess would love to see you, and Gabriel has been asking about you too."

Dean smiled, "Thanks, but if it's all the same to you I'd rather not intrude on your bizarre three-way pow-wow."

Sam hit him over the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"We are not in a three way relationship. I'm going out with Jess and Gabriel is her twin, that's it."

"Yeah but it doesn't count if he joins in does it?" Dean got another whack on the head for that.

"Shut up," Sam chuckled.

"Whatever, I'm going to go back to reading now. See you later!"

Dean sidestepped his moose of a brother to sprawl back out on the couch with his copy of A Clash of Kings (or at least the first volume of the thick book, which in braille was an astounding 1567 pages in five seprate volumes, all costing him an insane sum of just under $300 dollars.)

Sam shook his head and left with a sigh.

:::

It had been another week and Dean was still on his ass. Yeah, he told Sam he would at least try to find a job, but he didn't even know where to start. For now he just sat in the garage drinking a root beer while he listened to Bobby rattle around underneath one of the cars.

"You know, I'd be happy to read the want ads for you son," Bobby's voice could be heard over the clank of metal and the twisting of bolts.

"Thanks Bobby, but I don't know if something that posts in the newspaper is going to be very disabled-friendly," It was a half-ass excuse really.

Bobby scowled, "Just trying to help you Idjit."

Dean hummed in response and took another swig of his root beer.

A few silent minutes later and Sam came bursting through the door, "Dean! Good news!"

Dean jumped a little, not expecting the noise, "Jesus Sammy! Warn a guy would ya?"

Sam grinned lopsidedly, "Sorry. But hey, listen! I was talking to Gabriel, and one of his old friends from military school runs a library up in Topeka. It's a bit of a drive, but he said they have an entire wing just for braille and that they're looking to hire someone part time. I thought if you wanted, that I could drive you there tomorrow and you could talk to Gabriel's friend."

Dean sat for a moment, "A Library? Like, sorting books and stuff? I don't know Sam…"

Sam groaned, "Come on Dean? Will going there to check it out really kill you that much?"

"You're going!" Bobby barked from somewhere to his right. "I've had enough of you moping around boy."

Dean growled, "Fine! Whatever! So I get the job and then what? It's not like you could drive me every day Sammy!"

"Actually…. Jess works in the hospital just a few blocks away. She's offered to drive you if you get the job," Sam grinned and pat his brother on the back.

Dean sighed, "No way out of it I guess."

"Damn right," Bobby laughed "Sam, help yourself to a beer and bring me one will ya?"

Sam smiled, "Sure thing Bobby."

Dean slumped into his chair, he was not looking forward to this at all.